Syrian army retakes Shaer gas field from IS: state TV

Syrian troops backed by pro-regime militiamen recaptured the Shaer gas field in central Homs Thursday, state television reported, a week after Islamic State group jihadists overran parts of it.

Citing a military source, state television said the forces had recaptured the field and the surrounding area. The report was also confirmed by the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitoring group.

The advance follows the regime's recapture on Wednesday of two additional gas fields in the province as well a gas company.

Parts of the Shaer gas field fell under the control of IS last week, after an assault by the jihadist organisation that killed at least 30 pro-regime fighters and security guards.

The gas field has changed hands before, and was only recaptured by regime forces in July after IS overran it.

At least 270 people were killed when the jihadist group took the field on that occasion, many of them soldiers and pro-regime fighters who were executed by IS after being taken prisoner.

The site is near the famed archeological site of Palmyra.

IS has targeted oil and gas facilities in Iraq and Syria as it seeks funds for its fight to seize territory for a self-proclaimed Islamic "caliphate".